SPRING IN FULL SWING

TIPS TO ENSURE YOU PLANT RESPONSIBLY!

The sapling trees we plant today may seem harmless, but as they grow, so do their branches, which can cause damage to the power lines and disrupt your access to reliable electricity.

When trees come into contact with power lines, they can cause a “fault,” which causes line breakers to trip, fuses to blow, lights to blink on and off, and power outages to occur. By selecting your tree species and planting mindfully, you will prevent pruning and power disruptions in years to come!

SMALL TREES:

Trees that have a mature height of less than 20 feet (like redbuds, dogwoods and crabapple trees) are the easiest to manage close to a power line.

TALL TREES:

Trees that reach a mature height of 60+ feet should remain at least 50 feet away from power lines and at least 35 feet away from your house to ensure proper root development and minimize any damage to your house. Remember, evergreens should be separated by 6 to 10 feet, while deciduous trees should be 4 to 8 feet apart.

Our crews routinely inspect trees along the right-ofway corridors for potential hazards such as dead or leaning trees, or limbs that have grown into the power lines. Those trees are trimmed and/or removed if they pose a threat to the power lines of the community. These actions enabled us to achieve a reliability rating of 99.9% in 2022, one of the highest in the nation. Proactive measures like this are just another way we work to keep you empowered!

Friday, April 21 – Cornelius

Wednesday, April 26 – Lexington

Friday, April 28 – Statesville